The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 4 eBook

[53] The Roy Press edition
adds here a line which looks very
much like an interpolation.

“Arjuna said, ’Firmly stand thou on the
car, pressing thy feet on it, and tightly catch hold
of the bridles, for I will blow the conch again.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Arjuna then blew his conch
again, that conch which filled foes with grief and
enhanced the joy of friends. And the sound was
so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains,
and pierce mountain-caves and the cardinal points.
And Uttara once again sat down on the car, clinging
to it in fear. And with the blare of the conch
and the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang of
the Gandiva, the earth itself seemed to tremble.
And beholding Uttara’s fight, Dhananjaya began
to comfort him again.’

“Meanwhile, Drona said, ’From the rattle
of the car, and from the manner in which the clouds
have enveloped the sky and the earth itself trembles,
this warrior can be none else than Savyasachin.
Our weapons do not shine, our steeds are dispirited,
and our fires, though fed with fuel, do not blare
up. All this is ominous. All our animals
are setting up a frightful howl, gazing towards the
sun. The crows are perching on our banners.
All this is ominous. Yon vultures and kites on
our right portend a great danger. That jackal
also, running through our ranks, waileth dismally.
Lo, it hath escaped unstruck. All this portends
a heavy calamity. The bristles also of ye all
are on their ends. Surely, this forebodes a great
destruction of Kshatriyas in battle. Things endued
with light are all pale; beasts and birds look fierce;
and there are to be witnessed many terrific portents
indicative of the destruction of Kshatriyas.
And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves.
O king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing
meteors, and thy animals look dispirited and seem
to be weeping. Vultures and kites are wheeling
all around thy troops. Thou shalt have to repent
upon beholding thy army afflicted by Partha’s
arrows. Indeed, our ranks seem to have been already
vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight.
All our warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived
of their senses. Sending the kine ahead we should
stand here, ready to strike, with all our warriors
arrayed in order of battle.’”

SECTION XLVII

Vaisampayana said, “King Duryodhana then, on
the field of battle said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona—­that
tiger among warriors, and unto Kripa—­that
mighty car-warrior, these words, ’Both myself
and Karna had said this unto the preceptors.[54] I
refer to the subject again, for I am not satisfied
with having said it once. Even this was the pledge
of the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they
would reside to our knowledge in countries and woods
for twelve years, and one more year unknown to us.
That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet
running. Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to